7 sisters, 6 novices join Ursuline Franciscan Congregation

DIMAPUR — The Ursuline Franciscan Sisters of North East province celebrated the perpetual profession of seven sisters and temporary profession of six novices at Assisi Auditorium, Dimapur, on April 26.

The sisters willingly offered their lives for the service of God and the people by professing their vows in the presence of a large gathering of priests, parents, relatives, friends and well-wishers, an update informed.

Rev. Sr. Benny Fernandes, the Provincial Superior, received their vows.

The Bishop of Kohima, Rt. Rev. James Thoppil, along with 35 priests solemnised the Eucharist to mark the occasion.

The Bishop in his homily congratulated the sisters for their decision, courage and determination to live the religious life in the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation.

Rev. James Thoppil said the sisters are not professing poverty, chastity and obedience for conditional, functional, institutional or developmental purposes. The real motivation is for the service of the people. It is a total commitment to God and His church, he said.

“Religious life is a call to be counter cultural –to swim against the flowing current. Religious profession does not mean the end of the struggle to holiness or end to the temptations or difficulties and problems. It is rather the beginning of the real journey as religious, trusting in their call given by God even before they were born,” the update stated.

A felicitation programme was held to appreciate and honour the sisters for the “daring step” they took.

Sr. Chelongle Jacinta proposed the vote of thanks, which was followed by a family meal for all those who attended the programme.

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